M4 crash: Heartbroken family pay tribute to Stephen Abbott

Stephen Abbott was described as a "larger than life character" by his family

The family of the man who died in a crash on the M4 motorway have said he will be "greatly missed".

Stephen Abbott, 56, of Carmarthenshire, crashed into a stationary lorry on the eastbound carriageway near Hendy at 23:20 GMT on Monday 18 March.

Both vehicles caught fire following the crash and the road was closed for about 15 hours.

Dyfed-Powys Police officers are still investigating what happened.

In a statement Mr Abbot's family said he was "a larger than life character" whose sudden death had left them "heartbroken".

Brought up in Porthcawl, he lived in the Bridgend area before moving to Carmarthenshire.

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He was well-known for working with the Bar 44 group in Cowbridge for more than 20 years, along with the Parador 44 boutique hotel in Cardiff.

Mr Abbott is said to have left his home in Gorslas in his blue-grey Kia Ceed at about 21:45 on the evening of the crash.

He travelled eastbound along the M4 and then through Hendy, Pontarddulais, and Pontlliw, before turning around and travelling back to Pont Abraham to re-join the motorway.

Police are appealing for anyone with any information about Mr Abbott in the run-up to the crash to contact them.

Specialist officers are currently supporting his relatives.